sprostoni's activity

Just a point............ On our recent return through France into Switzerland and onwards, we called in at a motorway services (in France - I think north of Colmar.........)for a coffee and a bottle of water. On sitting down for the coffee, my good lady opened the water (which she had picked up on the way into the seating area). I happend to look at the bill and was surprised that it was a little expensive.........I asked my wife (who had now just opened her bottled water ) how much the water was...........she thought it was 1 euro. (reasonable?). It WAS 1 euro............PAST THE TILL, before the till it was 2.30euro !!!!!!!!!!!!!! beware!! S

Having just done the trip a few weeks ago, we tend to go straight through Switzerland (normally staying at Colmar and then Como), but......speaking to an Swiss/Italian friend here, they highly recommend Lucerne. We'll be stopping  there next time, S

Although it may have warmed up here by 4th May !!?? S

Totally agree with amazingmarche, but, can you change your name please, we are trying to keep Le Marche a secret !!! (maybe 'notverygoodhereinmarche' ?)  Ha ! 

That was my treat!!............blue cheese ( as in mouldy) was my bit of penicillin..........(they didn't tell me lies did they ??!! And..........just how may worms did I eat as baby.............surviving......just

What I would say to all of the above is that buying a property ANYWHERE  can be frought with problems (some potential, some actual). Having moved around a bit, the key thing for me is to decide what you will pay for any product (in this case a house), and then really it shouldn't matter who get's what sized portion of the total 'pie'. So, if the seller gets say 94% of the total, the local agent gets 3% and another (say UK based) agent gets another 3%, does it matter ? You are still paying the same 100% ?? Where I think this CAN be 'WRONG' (illegal I assume) is if the seller is expecting to get 100% of the total that you are paying and gets a bit less, the local agent creams a bit more off for themselves on top of his/her 3%. This is the sellers issue, not the buyers as the buyer is still paying the same 100%. I have heard (stories) of the local agent making a little bit more for him/herself through this route, in effect short changing the seller. But again, as long as you (as the buyer) are paying the amount that you are wanting to pay, it shouldn't matter should it? As an owner here in Italy, my major interest will be in making sure that I get the amount that I want for my property when/if I SELL it.

Along with others, you really want to make it a fly drive for just a week..... Anyway, if you DO choose to drive, here's an ongoing european fuel pricing site for info.... http://www.drive-alive.co.uk/fuel_prices_europe.html S

I'm driving via the gothard tunnel on Sunday (UK to Le Marche), I'll come back and post here early next week. Driving t'other way two weeks ago, it was all clear and no probs whatsoever. The weather in Le Marche at the mo is fantastic for the time of year....................but it could all change ! S

Are there other locations planned ? If there are, if anyone has details it may be useful to publicise them because it may help 'mobilise' people who are not currently effected to turn up and support current initiatives? S

I have eaten more home made soup in the last three years than in the previous thirty I think!! I have to say that the vast majority of them have been delicious (and I also feel that they are not too bad for me!) HOWEVER................(sorry to go against the crowd!).............I L.O.V.E. Heinzs' cream of tomato soup, especialy piping hot and with a nice crusty loaf !!!!!!!!!!!!!!cor blimey !!   S